Indian Desserts
The top 10 Indian Sweet Dishes and why you shouldn't miss them!
India offers a large variety of foods, and a huge selection of sweets to go with it! This lens lists the top 10 Indian sweets that you should definitely not miss out on. These desserts may be North Indian or South Indian in origin, but they are known and loved all over the world. I have added links to various Indian Dessert recipe videos and also embedded one here. Remember to check them out!
I have listed them in the order they occurred to me, and not how great they are, so do go through the entire list! Go ahead, let these delectable dishes tickle your taste buds!
Indian Desserts Books on Amazon - Books, Posters, Pudding and More!
No.1: Rasgulla
India's favorite dessert. Will it become yours too?
Rasgulla (Pronunciation: ras-gul-la) is a very popular cheese based, syrupy sweet dish originally from Orissa. It is popular throughout India and the South Asian area. The dish is made from balls of chhena (which is a form of Indian cottage cheese) and semolina dough, cooked in sugar syrup.
The rasgulla originates in the town of Puri in coastal Orissa. In this town, the dish is traditional offering to the Hindu goddess, Lakshmi. It is an age-old custom within the temple to offer rasgullas to Lakshmi to appease her wrath for being ignored by her devotees, immediately after tha Annual Chariot Festival. Some scholars believe that this practice dates back over 600 years.
Want to try your hand at making rasgullas? Check this out:
No.2: Gulab Jamun
Second on the list is the extremely popular Gulab Jamun.
Gulab Jamun is among India's most popular desserts! This delicious dessert is essentially a dumpling made of thickened or reduced milk, and then soaked in rose flavored sugar syrup.
It gets its name from two different words: Gulab which means rose (in Hindi, for the rose flavored syrup) and Jamun which is a kind of deep purple colored Indian berry (Gulab Jamuns are reddish to dark brown in color).
Gulab jamun is a sweet often presented at festivals or major celebrations such as marriages, the festival of lights Diwali etc.
Want to try your hand at making Gulab Jamuns? Check this out:
No.3: Kaju Barfi
Kaju Barfi is third on the list!
Kaju or Kajoo Barfi (Pronunciation: Kaa-joo Bur-fee) is a type of Cashew Fudge. It usually presented in the form of a diamond-shaped bar. It is more of a take-away sweet, and is often presented to guests on auspicious occasions like the birth of a child, weddings etc.
Kaju literally means Cashewnut and Barfi is a type of Indian sweet dish, usually in the form of lozenge. Kaju Barfi pieces are sometimes decorated with edible silver foil that leave a tingly aftertaste.
It is rather expensive compared to other Indian sweets, but it is relished and gifted extensively in India.
Want to try your hand at making Kaju Barfi? Check this out:
Kheer, also known as Payasam (Payas-Milk, Sanskrit) is a traditional South Asian sweet dish, made by boiling rice or broken wheat with milk and sugar, and flavored with cardamom, raisins, saffron, pistachios, almonds and other dry fruits. Kheer is simply rice pudding with spices and dry fruits.
It is typically served alongside a meal or also consumed alone as a stand alone dish There are many versions of Kheer within India itself, and is made in many homes routinely.
Want to try your hand at making Kheer? Check this out:
No. 5: Laddoo
The Laddoo is fifth on the list!
Laddu or Laddoo or Ladoo is a sweet that is highly popular in various parts of South Asia. It is often prepared on festivals or household events such as weddings and births or given as a 'prasad' (god's blessings) at Hindu Temples.
It is made out of flour and a mixture of other ingredients rolled into balls. There are many different types of laddoos, such as Besan Laddoo, Boondi Laddoo, Motichur Laddoo etc. The laddoo can be made from gram flour (besan), semolina (rava or sajjige in Kannada), wheat flakes, and many other flours. The name is also a common nickname for sweet and lovely people.
Want to try your hand at making Besan Laddoos? Check this out:
Gajar Halwa or Gajjar Halwa (Pronunciation: Gaa-jer Hull-wa) is an easy-to-make dish that is delectable and common in South Asian households. It is also one of the most famous north indian sweet items. Gajar Halwa rich in vitamin A as its main ingredient is carrot. It also has a lot of fat content since it uses a lot of clarified butter (ghee).
Gajar Halwa can be enjoyed hot or cold. Here's the recipe so you can try making it yourself!
Ingredients for carrot halwa:
1 kg Carrots
1 litre Milk
1 teaspoon Cardamom seeds
3/4 cup Water
3 tablespoons Ghee
2 tablespoons Raisins
2 tablespoons Almonds
2 tablespoons Pistachios
450 grams Sugar
Recipe for Gajar Halwa - Try making it at home!
Making Gajar Halwa - explained step by step.
No.7: Jalebi
The famous roadside sweetmeat, Jalebi is seventh on the list.
Jalebis are prepared by frying batter in a kind of pretzel shape then soaked in a sweet syrup. They can be served warm or cold. It has a somewhat chewy texture with a crystallized sugary exterior coating. The sugars are also partly fermented, thus adding flavor to the dish.
Jalebis are also sometimes made of chhena in the eastern states of India. Jalebi is a hot favourite on any and all special occasions.Jalebis though mostly eaten by themselves, can also be soaked in milk for taste.
Want to try your hand at making Jalebis? Check this out:
No.8: Kulfi
This Ice-cream like sweet is at number eight!
Kulfi or Qulfi is a popular flavored frozen dessert that is made from milk and is served cold. Kulfi originated in India and is popular throughou South Asian countries and even the Middle East. It has similarities to ice cream in taste, texture and preparation.
Unlike other ice cream, kulfi takes does not melt easily. It comes in various flavours, including pistachio, malai, rose, mango, cardamom (elaichi) etc which are the more traditional flavours, as well as newer variations like apple, orange etc.
Want to try your hand at making Pista Kulfi? Check this out:
In Maharashtra where I live, Puran Poli is a hot favorite of the people. It is made mostly during holi when the bonfire is lit to kill the demon Holika. The stuffing is known as puran and the covering is known as poli.
Making Puran Poli involves a bit of effort, but once you start eating, you'll realize it's well worth it! Puran Poli can be had with cream, aamras or shrikhand, though it is usually had as a stand-alone dish.
Want to try your hand at making Puran Poli? Check this out:
No.10: Shrikhand
Shrikhand is a type of sweetened yoghurt, and is tenth on the list!
Shrikhand is an Indian sweet dish made of strained yogurt. It is an important part of cuisine in Western India. It is also served with Gujarati meals sometimes as a sweet dish. Preparation of this dish is very simple but time consuming, since yogurt has to be processed properly. Below is a recipe to make shrikhand at home - do check it out.
We've reached the end of our long list, and I hope you enjoyed reading this lens! If you get an opportunity to taste any Indian desserts, now you know what to choose :)
Want to try your hand at making Shrikhand? Check this out:
Which of these do you like the most? - Or think you like the most, based on the description!
Choose your answer!
Appreciation from Squidoo
Thank you, Angels!
SquidAngels traverse the Squidoo world looking for blessworthy lenses that give something to the community. This lens was blessed by the angels theraggededge , d-artist, kiwisoutback, darciefrench, Spook and SquidooKimberly.
Thank you so much!
Want to learn how to make more great Indian dishes at home?
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